Most liked posts in thread: Driver side rear view mirror

If you have correctly adjusted the outside and rear view mirrors you shouldn't have a blind spot that can't be seen by simply looking a bit to the left as the car would need to be fairly far up along side you to not be seen in the mirror.

How To: Adjust Your Mirrors to Avoid Blind Spots - Feature - Car and Driver

 

While I know how to adjust mirrors properly, and do so, I've also become addicted to the ridiculously superior view you have when you replace the left mirror with a european wide-angle mirror, and have done so on all my cars. Once you've tried it... you'll understand. You can see behind you, beside of you, and two lanes over. It's the way it should be, IMO.

I hate the stick-on fish-eye mirrors. Just a personal preference thing. I prefer having the full mirror provide a single, wide-angle view.

 

If you adjust your mirrors properly you can enjoy wide viewing just as I do with my stock mirrors. As I see a car come up behind me it doesn't matter if he passes me on the right or on the left, I will see him in my side view mirror 'before' he leaves my rear view mirror and I will see him in my peripheral vision with perhaps a small head turn 'before' he leaves my side view mirror. Not adjusting mirrors properly is the most common mistake made by drivers.

 

I've always liked those fish eye mirrors. Sticking one on was a simple answer to moar better rearward vision.

 

This doesn't make sense........you still have to use both mirrors to see the cars.

I understand the desire for the wide angle, I agree that it would be nice to have the option to have them on our cars, but simply adjusting the side view will give you the same view....just without being able to see the side of you car.

 

I agree......as I tried to say above, but until then the properly adjusted mirror is good.

And I used a 5 panel wink in my VW for years......so more is better....lol

 

I have 3 MINIs...2 R53s and an R50. All 3 have blind spot problems and all 3 now have those blind spot mirrors. The blind spot problem has now been resolved. You can buy adjustable ones at Big Lots for around $1.00 for a pack of 2.

 

In the US, might be hard right now. OutMotoring would be a good source.

The parts you want are:

Mirror glass, heated, wide-angle, left 51-16-7-366-045
Mirror glass, heated, wide-angle, right 51-16-7-366-045

Unheated

Mirror glass, heated, wide-angle, left 51-16-7-366-039
Mirror glass heated convex right 51-16-7-366-039

 

It's basically one of our passenger "closer than they appear" mirrors made for the driver side.

 

You can also often find them on eBay from the UK

 

Unless you've driven a lot of miles with wide angle mirrors on both sides, you may not appreciate the improvement. But it is VASTLY better. It's not just a matter of "you can adjust your mirror to see the same thing, just not the side of your car. I can see a whole extra lane to the left with mine... which is handy on multi-lane highways with people moving from those far left lanes, into what would otherwise be your blindspot...

Trust me. Or not. But any other view is ill-informed. :devil: